Immigration

Our current immigration system is broken.  Our borders are not secure, legal immigration channels do not serve America’s economic needs and instead of bringing families together, too often the system separates them.  Despite these serious problems, the debate over immigration policy is often reduced to emotion and kneejerk rhetoric.  

Our economy and national security depend on stopping the political gamesmanship and creating a system that works.  It is time for practical, comprehensive reform that fixes our immigration system as a whole -- enhancing border security and creating sound policy solutions for undocumented immigration.  I believe a comprehensive approach must include:

• Additional border security resources, including technology and personnel
• A visa worker program that is responsive to the needs of business and the economy
• A path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, especially for deserving undocumented students who were brought here as children

Border Security and Enforcement

Our immigration system won’t work without proper enforcement of our laws.  I support increasing the numbers of border patrol agents and investigating more technologically advanced surveillance equipment that will increase our ability to stop illegal immigration at the border. We must target businesses which are abusing the current system.  Turning a blind eye to employment of undocumented workers is bad for American workers and exploitative of immigrant communities.  It also disadvantages those businesses that play by the rules.  I support the Administration’s efforts to use fines and civil penalties to ensure that businesses are following our immigration laws. I strongly support efforts by the Obama Administration to secure the border in a fiscally responsible way and target unscrupulous employers that undercut honest competition in the market.

Colorado farmers, business owners and the tourism industry tell me frequently about the need for reform of our visa programs.  They are right.  The United States stands to lose between $5 billion and $9 billion over the next few years in agricultural production alone if workforce needs are not met.

Colorado’s businesses and farmers should be looking to Coloradans first, before employing workers from outside of the country.  However, when those efforts do not fill worker shortages, I support practical worker programs that help Colorado’s economy:

• Making it easier for farmers to get workers through the H-2A visa program.  I am currently a cosponsor of the Ag Jobs Act which addresses worker shortages on Colorado farms by providing a way forward for immigrant farm workers and H-2A guest workers.
• Extending the annual cap on H-2B visas and providing an exemption for workers who have used the program during the last three years.  I also support the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act which would extend the annual cap on H-2B visas and provide an exemption for workers who have used the program during the last three years.  The H-2B program is critical to the viability of key Colorado tourism industries, and the current number of visas is insufficient to meet the state’s economic needs.     

Path to Legalization

Comprehensive immigration reform is meaningless without implementing a practical way to bring the estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants out of the shadows and into legal status.  I support a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants that requires them to go to the back of the line for citizenship, obtain a criminal background check, learn English, and pay all back taxes and fines.

Undocumented Students

As Superintendent of Denver Public Schools, I saw many high-achieving students face the consequences of their undocumented immigration status when they could not attend college after graduating from high school.  Though they had the grades to gain acceptance and the desire to succeed, their undocumented status was the barrier to attending college.  Most of these students were brought to this country as young children, grew up thinking of this country as home, and maintained aspirations of fulfilling the American dream.   

I am a cosponsor of the federal DREAM Act because I believe we should offer these students the opportunity to attend college or serve in the military.  Through their high achievement, these students have already proven the determination and focus necessary to achieve great things and contribute to this country.  Not only do college graduates pay double the taxes as result of higher incomes and employment rates compared to high school graduates, our country’s global competitiveness and economic growth depend on the contribution of students who finish college or serve in the military.  It makes sense to provide undocumented students who have demonstrated high achievement and graduated from high school the ability to attend college or serve in the military with the opportunity to legalize their immigration status.